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Foot Power: Latest role at marathon: Father/Fan

By M.C. BESECKER For the Daily Record/Sunday News

Updated:
05/21/2013 08:45:00 PM EDT

York, PA -

The Bob Potts Marathon, which will take place Sunday in York, is a festive occasion from start to finish.

Bands play out on the course and at the congregating area before and after the race. A variety of youth groups enthusiastically pass out water as runners race by. And supportive, exuberant fans cheer all along the 26.2-mile route.

The Grumbacher Center on the York College campus serves as the hub of the action and it is quite a scene on race day. Runners announced as they reach the track for the final stretch of the race typically feel the little boost needed to finish strong.

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One of the best parts is when two or more runners hit that last curve together and they all sprint to the finish to the roar of the crowd in the stands and along the track. It doesn't happen all the time, but when it does, it makes for good drama.

There is definitely something inspirational about watching athletes, young and old, men and women, battle for that position in the final results. For anyone who has run a marathon, you know how it feels to dig deep and find that last bit of energy left in reserve. It doesn't need to be tapped every race, but it is cool to watch when a runner goes for broke.

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Previous columns have documented the race, but it seems remiss to neglect it as my main item in the final week before the big day. For those tuning in late, the race is organized by Sean Potts, the son of the man for whom the race is named. Bob Potts was one of the founding fathers of the York Road Runners' Club.

The fifth-annual running of this race, the only marathon in York County, starts at 6 a.m., and is officially sold out. The race starts near the York College track, and the majority of the run takes place on the York County Heritage Rail Trail. It is mostly flat, which makes it fast, and popular among runners trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon.

OK, that is the business end of the column. Now for the personal part.I ran this race in 2009 and thoroughly enjoyed it, but that is not what I am focusing on today. I have also covered it from a journalist standpoint for five years, but that's not important today, either.

No, this time around, everything is different. For the first time, I will be there in a role as a father and a fan all rolled into one.

My son, Tyler, a junior at Dallastown Area High School, has trained for this race ever since the fall, when he completed his first half-marathon. It has been a long six months, and a lot different for me watching him rather than doing it myself.

In fact, as humbling as this is to write, he has totally left me in the dust. I have been there for support and advice, but have not joined him on many of his training runs. Tyler is doing this on his own.

He found a training plan and stuck to it diligently. The only time I got involved was when he complained of ankle pain about a month ago, and I recommended easing up to avoid a serious injury. To his credit, Tyler listened, even though it is tough to back off at that stage of training.

Now here he is, ready to go. He has a variety of goals, and I am confident he will hit them all. Tyler is dedicated, strong mentally and able to push himself through pain. This could be the tip of the iceberg in his running career.

I know Tyler will not be thrilled that I included him in this column because public recognition is not the reason he is doing this. But as a proud father, I just couldn't help myself.

This weekend I will join the rest of you who go to a race as a fan. I will be out there cheering and driving around to different locations to catch a glimpse of him as he runs by. I will be reveling in the day.

Since I have no plans to run any more marathons, this is as close as I will get. I suppose I have hit the age where I will be living vicariously through my children in some ways, but that's OK. It will be enjoyable to watch Tyler conquer this milestone.

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Marathon man: Speaking of marathons, Cary Walton, better known locally for his golfing prowess, is also building quite a resume as a distance runner. Walton completed the Dick's Pittsburgh Marathon on May 12, his ninth marathon in the last 10 years.

Walton clocked a time of 3:36:29, setting a new personal record to beat his old one (set last year in Pittsburgh) by a minute.

"My wife, Lori, ran the half and I give her a ton of thanks to let me train for four months while we raise our 3-year-old twins," said Walton. "It was such an emotional start this year because of what happened in Boston."

Walton observed bomb-sniffing dogs on the course but said he felt safe the entire time. He added that race organizers paid for air fare, lodging, food and entry fees for "several hundred" Boston Marathon runners who did not finish the race due to the tragic events.